Highland Cattail Peak Wheat - Highland Brewing

daliandragon

North Carolina

2.48/5  rDev -30.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

The color is right, with a cloudy, pale golden hue but the head dies almost instantly despite what i thought was a pretty good pour into a Warsteiner plzen glass. The nose is wheaty and fresh with slight bubble gum, butter and banana tones. Decent but not awesome.

Initially, this one provides plenty of wheat flavor but it all goes south pretty quickly. Some serious diactyl hits, with a bitter, face clenching finish. Highly disappointing. The mouthfeel is okay but its had to get past that taste. I won't be looking for this one again.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2008 03:27:32 | More by daliandragon

MMAJYK

Georgia

3.08/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A- Dingy dirty orangish yellow color. Looks like dull orange juice with no pulp. Looks somewhat disgusting.

S- Musky like a basement with some light citrus notes. It kind of matches the appearance in a weird way.

T- Milky cirus with a light banana and pineapple spin.

M- I would say this was by far the best aspect. Lots of creamy body, like a cream ale with medium carbonation.

D- I did not like it enough to ever want to order another.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2008 16:46:06 | More by MMAJYK

kels

Virginia

3.08/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Beer pours into my pint a mostly clear, light straw yellow. Light carbonation bubbles up from the bottom and only the tiniest bit of white head fizzles out nearly immediately to a thin white ring.

Smell: Smell is not much to speak of. In fact, all I really get is the lightest bit of skunky grains and a little bit of lemon.

Taste/Mouthfeel: The taste is a very light blend of wheat, dry and biscuity malt, and lightly citrus hops. Feel is light and moderate with nicely balanced carbonation.

Drinkability: Moderate - would be high if it was more flavorful overall.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2009 21:58:23 | More by kels

Drew966

Florida

3.13/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Highland Cattail Peak Wheat pours a hazy yellow with a white head from a brown twelve ounce bottle. The aroma is kind of grainy with a hint of citrus. The flavor is grainy, perhaps a hint of citrus. That's about it. This beer is disappointing at best.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2009 00:37:10 | More by Drew966

SilentSabre

Georgia

3.23/5  rDev -10%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This was pretty average all the way around. Poured up *very* pale yellow like a witbier with a rather weak head. Didn't look awful, but I really like Highland and kind of expected a little more out of this. Smell was a bit muted, but what I could get was kind of pseudo-hefe. Taste was nice and had a bit of a banana thing going on whilst also having a mild hop profile lurking in the back, as well. Mouthfeel was very light and I could certainly see knocking out 6 of these on a hot day. Not a terrible beer, but Highland can do much better.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2009 01:56:16 | More by SilentSabre

AlexJ

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Well hazed apricot yellow with a foamy white head that leaves subtle lace. Retention is good.

Aroma is a bit milder than I expected from Highland. Almost standard APWA notes of tangy wheat, light citrus, subtle spice, and grassy/floral hops.

Flavor a bit more pronounced then the nose but on the same line. Wheat and citrus, light honey and spice, with a herbal floral note and grassy hop finish.

Body is nice and slick with good wheaty effervescence. Smooth and quaffable, body may be the best aspect. Definately worth trying but not as exciting as I hoped. I wasn't too impressed withg the Shining Rock either, but am very glad to see this great brewery trying new things. I will buy anything they brew!

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2008 20:07:19 | More by AlexJ

johnd513

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a hazy golden color with a small white head that quickly disappears. Smells of citrus with lemon and banana. The tastes of citrusy with lemon and banana. The mouthfeel has medium body and is nicely carbonated but ends a little watery. This beer is easy to drink but I could only see myself having a couple. Overall nothing spectacular but I could easily see myself drinking this in the summer time.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2008 04:59:49 | More by johnd513

mralphabet

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 Oz Bottle poured into Weizen glass

A: Straw yellow.... about 1/2 a fingers worth of head... little bit of sediment but very clear with nice carbonation. Head fades to nothing with little to no lacing.

S: Very wheaty with some citrus notes... there is a hint of yeast and a little caramel. Very nice.

T: OK, I'm getting spicy wheat with some caramel malt sweetness, yeast are there not to big, the hops moderate and with of lemon. It finishes well with a light bitterness.

M: Med to light bodied. The carbonation is not to over powering... Pretty nice for the style.

D: Pretty drinkable.... could be a nice session brew. But over all pretty normal for the style... It is a little more beer tasting than most wheat beers I've had.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2009 05:02:38 | More by mralphabet

tdm168

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a golden yellow with one finger of head. Decent retention. Smells of grains and wheat. Taste is wheat, yeast, and a hint of citrus. Good carbonation, crisp, smooth, and light bodied.

Just another weak summer beer. Rather forgettable. I'll ignore it next year.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 12:53:26 | More by tdm168

Crittervision

North Carolina

3.33/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a vigorous pour results in a quarter- to half-inch head into a tulip. the head drops quickly over the course of a few minutes and tries its very best not to come back. golden, a little hazy. i guess i was expecting a more opaque beer, but later noticed the style as american pale wheat ale, and not hefe, so that may explain its near clarity.

i pick up the slightest bit of wheat, maybe banana, its a little lemony, but the smell is definitely dominated by a smell very reminiscent of, but bolder than, [insert generic macro]. i cannot point to exactly which one that would be.

the taste follows the smell. i imagine 25% of a great hefeweizen blended with 75% of one of the better macros. the result could be this.

mouthfeel is nice. nothing to complain about for the style i believe. it feels nice and spritzy, clean and clear. the alcohol is very gentle, as expected from a drink of this abv.

drinkability is good. could i drink a six-pack if i wanted to? with ease. given a variety of options, would i want to drink more than one of these in a sitting? probably not.

i guess, for me, the attraction to this was that it is seasonal, organic, local, and a wheat beer. this falls short of the poofy poofy heads and densely packed flavors of my favorite wheat beers. in the end, all this has going for it is that it is seasonal, organic, and local. i appreciate highland for going the organic route with this, but to me, thats not enough to buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2009 04:04:01 | More by Crittervision

July2Nov

Hawaii

3.38/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Looks like a pale yellow color, with virtually no lacing at all. Nothing to write home to mom about.

Smell: Has that wheat smell and also, an "earthy" scent like wet grass.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Very light in body.almost water-like that perks up a bit in the middle with a grainy feel. Has a dry champagne aftertaste. Unfortunately it's kind of nondescript.

Drinkability: Was looking a bit more out of this one. It was just kind of so-so. I wouldn't turn this one down if it was given to me, I just wouldn't go out searching for it.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2010 23:49:09 | More by July2Nov

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

pours golden in color with little head. Foam receeds quicklyleaving some spotty lacing. well carbonated.
Aroma was typical of wheat beers but since this ia an Americian alot of the aromas are muted and sutle.
Taste is light and tart lemony some wheat malts come through.
Mouthfeel is medium in body and has a slight metallic aspect.
Not bad and to style but really why does anyone drink this style is beyond me.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 18:29:19 | More by micromaniac129

farrago

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep bone white head, settles quickly into a thin sheet across the surface, lacing not very sticky. Cloudy light yellow color with a warm glow, looks "summery." Crisp and light nose, but has some punch, like a featherweight boxer, wheat, sourdough bread, pretzels, lemon peels, at first seems malty but keener hoppiness takes over, light mixed fruit dash, nothing distinct. Light to medium-bodied, the carbonation leaves a bigger impression than the body weight. More sour baking dough, wheat and general grassy sort of elements. The lemon to orange citrus maintains a tenuous presence, no real juiciness. The malt smoothness on the weak side, at times you might get a chocolate powder accent. No one component seems to take the lead, this not meant to suggest harmonious integration rules the day. At times reminds one of an American Pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2009 21:40:39 | More by farrago

bucklemyshoe

Georgia

3.4/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint.

A: It pours yellow-orange with a finger of white head.

S: Lots of cereal malts, some citrus, and some metallic notes.

T: Cereal malt, tangerine, grapefruit, and some yeasty notes.

M: The body is light and a little low in carbonation.

O: This is beyond mediocre. It is very quaffable but it is not special at all.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 23:34:28 | More by bucklemyshoe

wcudwight

North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Hazy pale yellow in color. Thin fizzy white head and some mild lace. Citrus, banana, and a hint of fresh cut grass in the aroma. Flavor is similar to the aroma with a bit of a kick from the rye. Nice fresh crisp mouthfeel. Highland is spot on with the carbonation. Overall I'm not a big fan of wheat beers but this is one I'd be willing to visit again. The rye adds an interesting touch to the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2008 02:39:22 | More by wcudwight

EGledhill

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

thanks to wcudwight for this one

poured into Sam Adams glass

A. Pale, cloudy body with little white head that fades quickly

S. A Cirtusy lemon, banana scent. Nice

T. Sharp zesty taste, leaving a weird lemon aftertaste. ryealso makes an appearance. But not much, if any banana. Kind of disappointed after the smell.

M. Mouth feel was full and smooth.

D. Wouldn't be my choice for session beer but for someone who was into the beer, sessionability would be very good. not filling and pretty refreshing.

Glad to have had the chance to try this one. Average beer. If I was in the mood for a hefe or something in the like style. I'd go with something else. but a solid beer nonetheless

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2008 04:31:39 | More by EGledhill

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.43/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Hazy, yellow body with a full inch of creamy, white head. Scattered lacing on the way down.

Smell: Malted wheat nose with light notes of flowers, sweetened lemon, and spice.

Taste: Sweetish, tangy malted wheat with a very light touch of honey. Gentle trace of citrus. Floral, spicy hops with a restrained bitterness. Begins to develop a slight graininess. Finishes quite crisp.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-high carbonation.

Drinkability: A fine, crisp, easy drinking wheat ale if that's the thing you're looking for.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2008 00:43:01 | More by ChainGangGuy

PDXHops

South Carolina

3.43/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a shaker pint.

Pours very pale gold with a modest white head. Poor retention and lacing. Things get better from there, though. It's a pretty nice refreshing brew, with plenty of crisp wheat, a squeeze of tart lemon and some lingering husky grain flavors. Light bodied with lowish carbonation and a goes-down-easy feel. Not bad at all. Just the thing for a hot Carolina summer day.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2009 21:30:55 | More by PDXHops

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.43/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Comes out of the bottle a clear solar yellow with a thick, fluffy white head that does not stick around too long. Strong aroma is wheaty, yeasty and rather fruity, the latter being mainly sweet citrus - orange with more than a hint of lemon. Flavor is typical of a decent wheat beer, being wheaty with an undertone of yeast and a citrus hint. Texture has average body and a fair amount of fizz. Nothing special, but still refreshing. Brings a ray of sunshine into a chilly winter day.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 23:22:34 | More by Cyberkedi

grayburn

South Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cloudy golden yellow with a thin but sticky white cap. The head quickly recedes to a small ring but the lace clings to the side of the glass.
The nose is rather muted, some light bread notes and a little clove. There are some very light citrus notes hiding in the backseat.
The taste is similar to the nose, but everything is a bit more pronounced. Very breast with a light toasted clove finish. Light citrus hops balance everything out.
The mouthfeel is thick and creamy, Highland hit the nail on the head here.
Good beer, not great, and the Germans have nothing to fear yet.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2011 19:50:39 | More by grayburn

JayQue

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Reminds me of Sam Adams Summer Ale. Pours the usual wheat beer hazy straw color. Bubbly white head, not as big or long lasting as some. Fairly light aroma, lemony but no hint of spices.

Tastes ok. Wheat or spices not pronounced. The smoothness of the wheat and a slight wheat taste is there. The lemon is the predominant taste

Mouthfeel is ok also. Good wheat beers give you a little tingle of spices that are missing here but the overall mouthfeel is rich and crisp enough, not watery.

Drinkability is pretty good. Nothing outstanding but a pleasant summer drink

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2008 22:13:22 | More by JayQue

MSchae1017

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer was poured from the 12oz bottle into a weizen glass.

The beer pours a hazy pale orange with a decent sized white head. Unfortunately this head is not quite what you would expect from a wheat beer and the head does not hold that well, and really only leaves a bit of lace as the head dissipates.

The aroma is also fairly weak. A bit of breadyness along with a touch of citrus hops.

The flavor of the beer is also pretty straight forward with the wheat flavor and a bit of hoppyness that certainly picks up as the beer warms.

The mouthfeel is light with effervescent carbonation.

Overall an easy drinking wheat beer with a bit of hop character to liven things up. Nonetheless, its not exactly my cup of tea and it will be a while before I go for one of these again.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2008 03:05:05 | More by MSchae1017

Wasatch

Utah

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks goes out to MSchae1017 for this brew.

Pours a nice cloudy pale yellow color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy white head, with some minimal sticky lacing. The nose is malty, grassy, yeasty, with some banannas/coriander. The taste is sweet, malty, with some grassy/yeasty notes, nice touch of banannas/coriander. Medium body. Drinkable, this is a nice APWA. Thanks Matt.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2009 23:00:33 | More by Wasatch

HopDerek

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy straw gold color with 2 fingers of white foamy head into a shaker pint glass. OK retention and not much in terms of lacing. Smells of clove, lemon, yeast, and bread malt. Tastes of lemon juice, honey glazed biscuits, clove, and yeast with a bitter finish of spicy hops, grass, and some more citrus zest. Medium-light in body with some prickly carbonation. Somewhat syrupy and tart with a nice bitter finish. Somewhat dull at first, but gets better as it warms. I could see enjoying this on the deck on a Summer day.

Thanks to Kegatron for the chance to try this.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2009 22:02:12 | More by HopDerek

chinchill

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Undated, recently purchased bottle served in a pint glass. Some sediment in the bottom of the bottle added near end of tasting.

Pours a pale golden amber with a very slight haze. Very little head and this dissipates quite quickly. Some visible carbonation.

S - Nice but mild aroma of toasted grains with a bit of subtle floral

T - Most "wheat" beers are, to me, at least a bit unappealing. This is one in the minority that has a thoroughly pleasant taste, with a variety of grain elements and a significant hop component. We're not talking hop slam here, just a nice noticeable hop contribution [Palisade and German Hersbrucker} to the sweet/bitter balance {IBU = 17}and the overall flavor. Strong finish with a fine hop-tinged, toasted grain aftertaste.

M - Given the apparently low carbonation, a surprising crispness, partially from the hops. Semi-dry finish. Medium-light body.

O - Very drinkable; this one goes down about as quickly and easily as any beverage. As a bonus, this is an organic beer as certified by Clemson University. Excellent for style.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2011 00:31:04 | More by chinchill